WASHINGTON – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing a rule to require more stringent endurance and high speed tests for heavy load range tires.

The rule would also require tire sidewalls be labeled with the tire’s maximum speed rating.

Upgrading the truck tire test standards was one of several mandates under the TREAD Act, passed in 2000.

In remarks to the Rubber Manufacturers Association in April, NHTSA administrator David Strickland, noted that the current tire performance testing standards have not been significantly updated since then 1973.

"Heavy truck tires on the market today perform far and above the requirements of FMVSS 119. We’ve been conducting extensive testing to determine what the new performance requirements should be."

Comments to the proposed rule, which can be accessed here, are due Nov. 29, 2010.